Floor finish

[Bluegum]

Well its almost that time in the work here to get the floor sanded and its a question that I am unsure of. Whether to finish with poly urithane or to use an oil finish. The floor boards a 35mm T&G iron bark and should look great either way. I know I will need to continually oil the boards if I go the oil option. I was wondering if any one has used oil instead of poly and what their thoughts were. :confused:

[E. maculata]

Yep I have, for multitude of reasons, easy to apply, easy to repair, overall softer more natural look, and I'm a sucker for the oiled look .

[Carry Pine]

Yes, oil (tung) is the way to go. Visit my neighbours (2) and I'll show you a cyprus and a hardwood floor that do really terrible things with moisture content after being 'estapolled'. Lickily one of them sold the house as soon as things started to happen.

[rscho]

I'm in a similar situation to Bluegum in that I'll soon be ready to sand and coat my timber floors. However I'm worried that maintaining an oil finish in the future could become a problem, mainly with the time it'll take and the disruption it'll cause. Are the water-based urethane-type finishes "safe" ie do they allow the floor to breathe and allow adjacent boards to move but still protect it from spills etc? I know I'm probably asking for all the benefits of an oil finish with none of the work but it can't hurt to ask.

[jimc]

I had a product available from Whittle Wax applied to my floors.
This is a natural wax/oil based finish that withstands most fluid spills and is increadibly hard wearing.

One advantage is that is an area gets scratched, you can refinish that part with more wax.

The other advantage is you can walk on it after 4 hours? and move furniture back onto it within 24 hours AND it does not smell.

It is a tad more expensive than other finishes but the advantages far outweigh the the cost issue.

check it out http://www.whittlewaxes.com.au/

[tarjla]

Just wondering if the finish you used made the boards a similar colour or if each one retained any colour difference it origionally had,thanks

[The Big O]

We have just completed a Sydney bluegum floor to the entrance hall and study. We sealed it first which retains the colour and gave it three coats of "Toby" urethane made by Dulux, very lightly sanded between coats. It looks magnificent. If you use oil or wax, you will have a major job if you decide to urethane it later,and you will be forever polishing it.
regards, Lionel.

[magnet 12]

I used Tung oil ex Bunnings two years ago and it still looks good. I can't remember whether any additives were in the oil, but it was easy to apply and has required no maintenance.

[Barcode54]

Hey Dave,
Have been just reading up on a Toby product called UMO (for Urethane Modified Oil) which is more durable than tung oil. It is designed to produce a tough, abrasion resistant finish with a natural "oiled" look of timber. May be worth looking into.

[Larry McCully]

If you are going to use a tung oil finish you will need to put something over the top of it. Jism, has it right about wax, (wittle)you can also put down a water base sealer that they use on vinyl. Otherwise your floor will scratch to the buggery. If you dont want any maintanance to your floor and want a durable long wearing coating.... then without question use a aingle pac moisture polyurathane.